Happy Birthday, National Park Service!

Today, the National Park Service turns 100. Of the currently 59 US National Parks, I think I’ve been to 15. That’s not counting national monuments, national historic parks, national historic sites, national recreation areas, national memorials, national seashores, etc, etc, etc – just national parks. Now that I’m actually counting them up, I’m realizing that I haven’t been to nearly enough parks!

The National Park system is an amazing legacy for the people of America. They belong to all of us and they truly are “America’s Best Idea” (if you haven’t seen the Ken Burns film yet, go watch it now). The mission of NPS is simple:

The National Park Service preserves unimpaired the natural and cultural resources and values of the National Park System for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of this and future generations. The Park Service cooperates with partners to extend the benefits of natural and cultural resource conservation and outdoor recreation throughout this country and the world.